National Telescope national telescope newspaper
By Daniel Ayantoye
The management of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) has donated relief materials as palliative to Ife community cushion the effect of the outbreak of covid-19 on the community.
According to the institution in a statement on its twitter handle on Thursday, 16th April, 2020, the donation was part of the institution’s contribution to the fight against the spread of covid-19 as well as support to the community.
The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Eyitope Ogunbodede, while presenting the materials to the President of the Ife Development Board, Comrade Lawrence Awowoyin, at Ooni’s Palace in Ile-Ife, commended the Ooni for the fatherly role he has always played to the University.
The statement reads: “In a determined effort at further cementing the existing superlative cordiality between the ancient city of Ile-Ife and the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), the authorities of the University have embarked on sensitisation and distribution of relief materials to Ife community as part of their contribution to the fight against Covid-19 that is hitting hard at many countries of the world.
“The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Eyitope Ogunbodede, Thursday made the disclosure while presenting the materials to the President of the Ife Development Board, Comrade Lawrence Awowoyin, at Ooni’s Palace, Ile-Ife.
“Ogunbodede commended Ooni for the fatherly role he has always played to the University, saying he had done enough to the University community, even during this COVID-19 pandemic.
“The Vice-Chancellor added that the University thought it fit to fully support the efforts of the government and the Ooni’risa, HIM Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, towards curtailing the pandemic in the country.
“He said hat the institution had initially distributed handbills that sensitised the people on how to curtail the spreading of Coronavirus.
“According to him: “we are aware of the fact that the lockdown has denied members of the community the opportunity to go about their normal daily activities, thereby negatively affecting their means of livelihood.
We, however, take solace in the fact that since the advent of the Coronavirus disease in Nigeria and Osun State, there is no single case of COVID-19 in Ile-Ife and it’s environs.”
He stated further: “it is our prayer that this no-case situation remains so in the entire Ife Community.” He appealed to Nigerians to stay in their homes and observe social distancing as well as obey the guidelines released by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
In his response, the President of IDB, Comrade Lawrence Awowoyin, commended the OAU management for the good gesture.
“Awowoyin said that if each one helped, at least, one person in providing succour, the pain of the vulnerable would be eliminated considerably, if not totally. He commended the management for their commitment and willingness to provide the desired support for the proper and effective distribution of the relief materials to the people of the ancient city of Ile-Ife.”
According to the statement, the items donated by OAU include: 179 packs of 5kg Garri, and Seven and half bags of 50kg Garri. Others are: 200 packs of OAU bottled water; One cow, 500 loaves of OAU bread and 200 bottles of 250ml Ifetizer (hand sanitiser). All the items donated to the Ife community are produced by the University.
“On the entourage of the Vice- Chancellor were the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Professor Chris Ajila; the Registrar, Mrs. Margaret Omosule and the Acting Director of Corporate Services, Dr. Peju Oyebisi.” It added.
